CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Former Columbia men’s basketball standout Luke Petrasek signed a free agent deal with the Charlotte Hornets, the team announced September 18. Petrasek will become the first Lion to attend an NBA training camp since Sean Couch ’87CC, who was drafted and signed by the Indiana Pacers in 1987.

Petrasek earned second team All-Ivy League and third team All-Met honors in 2016-17 after averaging 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.3 minutes per game in 27 contests. For his career, the 6-10 forward and East Northport, New York, native averaged 9.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 115 appearances with the Lions.

Additionally, Petrasek’s classmate Jeff Coby ’17CC agreed to terms with CB Prat of the LEB Gold League in Spain in August.

In total, Columbia now has five players currently playing professionally. Asenso Ampim ’11CC will begin his sixth season overseas with Union Rennes Basket in France. Maodo Lo ’16CC, coming off another round of international experience with Germany at 2017 Eurobasket, enters his second season with Brose Bamberg. Alex Rosenberg ’16CC will begin his second season in Israel after joining Bnei Herzelia in July.